Dash control



D Aug. 2,1927. 1,637,737

A. R. COOPER DASH CONTROL Filed March 24. 1924 flaming/5 Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

UNITED srATss" PATENT orri cs.

ALLYN RANFT COOPER, 0F MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA.

DASH CONTROL.

Applicationfiled March 24, 1924. Serial' No. 701,263.

capable of an. almost infinite number of ad-- I5 j ustment positions, and which may be readily.

locked in any one of such positions and which may be moved other positions when unlocked. Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims. 1

My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinalcross section with some parts in elevation showing the control device in the locked position.

Figure 2 is a similar view to. Figure 1 showing the control device in the unlocked position; 30 Figure 3 is a transverse cross section taken on theline 3-3 of Figure 1.

Like parts are designatedbyIlike-chare acters throughout, r

A is a portion ofthe instrument board of an automobile in which the control device is mounted. B is a housing plate to which the control device G is secured. B is another plate on the opposite side of the instrument board- By means of bolts B B the control device is removably secured in the instrument board.

The housing C as shown is preferably provided with a curved side C and it is provided also with perforated closed ends.

Carried within the housing C is the control shaft D. It may be reduced at one end as at D and provided with a perforation D in which a wire or rod D is mounted. This wire extends to the device which is to be con trolled, which is not here shown as it forms no part of the present invention. At the other end of the shaft D is a control handle I) by means of which it may be rotated and moved in and out for adjustment. In the form here shown there is providedintermediate the ends of the shaft D, a laterally exdirectlyto any one ofsuch tending projection E. .As shownthis proectionis integral with the shaft and forms 1n reahtya laterally bent part of it. lVhile this is a preferable construction, my inven:

tion-is not limited to it,and this projection might be made in any other form. It need not be integral with the shaft and might take the "form of a rounding the shaft, or otherwise mounted on or securedto it. i

member partially sun As here shown theportion of the housing against which the laterally projecting tion of the shaft bears in is curved, and the shaft-is mounted-eccentrically to the curvature. This is aprefers able construction but is. not essential. This porthe locked position curve might be onthe arc of a circle or it might not. This portion need not actually be curved. The projection portion of the shaft can bear against a plane surface'or a, flat portion sufiiciently to take a locking con-v tact without interfering with the construc-' tion shown herewith.

As shown there is preferably. some play between the parts, and the housing is to some extent elastic or expansible. When the shaft is rotated so that the laterally bent portion comes in locking contact with the housing which encloses it, this housing-isto someextent sprung. This ispreferable but not es= sentialf The rigid. v I 7 Although I have shown an operative devic-e, sstill it will be obvious that many changes in size, shape and arrangement of parts might be made without departing materially from the spirit I wish, therefore, that my showing be taken as in a sense diagrammatic.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

The control device is mounted to someiportion of an automobile, preferably it is mounted as shown on the instrument board. I

By means of a wire or other connection some device such, for example, as radiator shutter is operatively connected to the shaft of the control device, and the shutter is caused to move by reciprocation of the shaft. In order to lock the shaft in position and thus hold the device which it controls against movement, the shaft is rotated by means of the handle so that the lateral projection from the shaft comes into locking contact with a portion of the housing. When the shaft is rotated, this lateral projection is of my invention and cally within said housing,

wedged against a portion of laterally bent portion upon it is moved out of wedging and housing. dinally and thus moved. a

By means of this construction the shaft may be positively locked at any point within the limit of the length of the housing which encloses it, and an almost infinite degree of variation of adjustment is thus permitted. I

I claim:

1. In a control device, a shaft mounted for looking contact with its the device which it controls is axial and for rotary movement, a lateral.

projection from said shaft, a housing for said shaft provided with a curved portion, the shaft being mounted eccentrically with respect to'said curved portion, the projection from saidshaft adapted to move against the curved portion of the housing to engage the same to lock the parts against movement.

2; In a control device, a shaft mounted for axial and for rotary movement, a lateral rigid projection from said shaft intermediate its ends and provided with a curved portion, the projection from the shaft normally out of contactwith the curved portion and adapted to be moved against thecurved portion of the housing to engage the same and lock the parts against movement.

3. In a control device,a shaft mounted for axial and for rotary movement, a lateral'projection from said shaft, a housing enclosing said shaft, provided with a curved portion the shaft being mounted eccentrithe projection he shaft is then moved longitua tion of the housing and to lock the parts against movement.

4. In a control device, a shaft, an operating handle on the same, and a connection portion, a lateral projection from said shaft, a housing enclosing said shaft provided with a curved portion, the shaft being mounted eccentrically within said housing for rotation, the projection from the shaft normally out of contact with the curved portion and adapted to be moved against the curved por tion of the housing and to he forced thereagainst with a wedging and locking movement and when so wedged to hold the shaft against movement with respect to its hous ing.

5. In a control device a shaft mounted for axial and rotary movement, a lateral projection on said shaft intermediate its ends, and

an open sided housing partially enclosing said shaft, said projection heingnornially said shaft outof contact with said housing adapted to be rotated to bring said projection into locking engagement with said housing, i

6. axial and rotary movement, a lateral projec- In a control device a shaftmounted for tion on said shaft intermediate its ends, and l an open sided housing partially surrounding said shaft and provided with a curved portion the projection from the shaft adapted to he moved ALLYN RANFT coornn'.

against the curved portion of v the housing and to be forced thereagainst with a wedging or locking action to hold the Marshalltowmcounty of 

